News

Workers Comp Insurance Fraud: It costs more than you think

For more information, download this printable brochure here or contact: Marin County District Attorney's Office Attn: Insurance Fraud Unit 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 130 San Rafael, CA 94903 415.473.6450co.marin.ca.us/da  

Every Touchpoint Matters: The Secret to Creating Remarkable Employee & Customer Experiences

Unreasonable Hospitality in Action: Turning Everyday Moments into Extraordinary Culture Will Guidara’s philosophy of unreasonable hospitality isn’t about grand gestures, it’s about intentionality. At his restaurant, Eleven Madison Park, the number one restaurant in the world, the team examined every single touchpoint a guest might encounter and asked: “How can we make this better?” Imagine applying that same lens to your business, not just for customers, but for your employees too. As one of only a

Enhancing Employee Well-being and Reducing Healthcare Costs Through Blood Pressure Management

Invest in your employees' well-being and manage long-term healthcare costs by proactively addressing a major health risk: high blood pressure.   Affecting nearly half of U.S. adults and significantly increasing the risk of costly conditions like heart disease and stroke, uncontrolled high blood pressure represents a substantial health burden for employees and a potential financial strain for employers. Blood pressure measures the force of blood against artery walls. Maintaining healthy levels is crucial

April Workshop - Copilot for Word

Free Live Microsoft Workshop – Copilot for Word (April 25) At Professional Computer Concepts, we believe that when businesses have the right tools—and know how to use them—everyone wins. That’s why we’ve partnered with LearnIT to offer complimentary, instructor-led Microsoft workshops to help our community boost productivity and make the most of the tools they already use. This month’s featured session is perfect for anyone ready to tap into the power of AI:Copilot for Word Thursday, April 25, 202511

Bid Faster and Win More Jobs with AI Estimating from KonstructIQ: Free Webinar

Creating accurate estimates used to take hours of manual work and endless spreadsheet tweaking. Now, with KonstructIQ’s new AI Estimating feature, all you need is a short project description to generate a detailed, editable estimate in minutes. Whether you're remodeling a kitchen or building a new home, you can now build accurate estimates faster, win more jobs, and save time. Describe. Review. Finalize. Just enter a brief project description and KonstructIQ instantly generates a full scope of work.

Support the Legacy of the Marin Builders Association Scholarship Program

Since 1978 the Marin Builders Association Scholarship & Workforce Training Fund has provided nearly $1 million in scholarship awards to deserving high school seniors. Scholarship winners have gone into nearly every profession, including the building trades, construction management, engineering, architecture, and more. Our Scholarship Program offers an opportunity for all students pursuing a college, university, or trade school education to apply for a financial award. We emphasize the need for trained

Resilient Neighborhoods Presents: FREE Online Climate Action Workshops

Resilient Neighborhoods empowers people to take personal and local action to reduce their household greenhouse gas emissions and create connected communities resilient to disasters. We offer two workshops every season. Workshops are virtual and can be done from the comfort of your own home. You'll meet 5 times over 8 weeks with a team of Marin County community members. Meetings are 90 minutes followed by an optional Q&A session.Thursday Team Dates: Jun 12 (Kickoff), Jun 26, Jul 10, Jul 24 & Aug 7 6:30 -

Safety & Training Short: Pressure Washers

Objective: To ensure safe operation, pressure washer users must be trained, inspect equipment before use, wear appropriate PPE, and follow safety precautions to mitigate potential hazards. A pressure washer is a mechanical sprayer that uses increased water pressure to clean surfaces. If not used properly, pressure washers can cause injuries. Before using a pressure washer, prepare for its potential hazards.   Possible hazards include: Excessive noise and flying debris, which can affect both you and

Celebrating our Member Referral Partners - Thank You for Helping Us Build Our Community!

We would like to recognize and celebrate our wonderful REFERRAL PARTNERS!2025:Jacqueline Hunter, Marin County District Attorney's Office, who referred Gina Belforte, Stanley SteemerMichelle Squire, Studio SQUIRE, who referred Jenn McCoy, Jenn McCoy InteriorsBrittany Keyes, State Farm Insurance Agent, who referred Britt Baumbach, Pink's Window Services Marin!Rob Curry, R.C. Electric, Inc., who referred Richard Hynes, Millennial Development, Inc. (Special thanks to Rob for pledging his bonus to our Workforce

Marin Builders Scholarship Application Now Available! Deadline to Submit is Monday, April 28, 2025

We recognize the tremendous opportunity for trained professionals in the construction industry, now and in the future. ALL STUDENTS pursuing a college, university or trade school education are eligible to apply. More information can be found here:  SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION (DOWNLOAD and PRINT)  FILLABLE PDF APPLICATION     Applications, including necessary records, must be received by the Association on or before the close of business at 4:00 pm on Monday, April 28,

Capitol Connection #1407

Capitol Connection Q&A for Contractors Week of 3/31/2025 593 Words By Shauna Krause, President, Capitol Services, Inc.  Word of mouth, rumor and conflicting views of the complex rules of contracting don’t always pan out, so how about an expert opinion? Let’s start with RMO rules, advise business leadership and ‘hazard’ an answer on a question arising from the Los Angeles area fire disaster… Q: I am a business broker and one of my clients is looking to buy a contracting business and hire a Responsible

Construction Related Hiring Opportunities

At the Marin Builders Association, we are often approached by graduates of our construction training programs, or those interested in pursuing a career in construction trades.   Often times, we are asked to connect these applicants to our members who may be hiring or offering an internship at their company. If your firm offers internships or if you have upcoming job opportunities, we want to hear from you! To join a short list of employers who are looking to hire or offering internships, please take 3

Smith Currie Oles' Procurement Playbook: Contracting in the Age of Trump Updates

Federal government contracting is impacted each time there is a change in administration in the White House. This year will be no different. We will be monitoring daily the Executive Orders and policy changes coming from the Trump administration that will impact you and your projects. You will likely receive a flurry of information as we keep you updated on these important changes that will be coming frequently over the next several days. Click here to access the Procurement Playbook and subscribe here to

Safety & Training Short: Bloodborne Pathogens - Sharps Safety

Objective: To raise awareness of sharps hazards and safe handling practices. Improper handling or disposal of needles and other sharps, such as scalpels, broken glass, and razors, can result in serious infections, including the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), the Hepatitis C virus (HBC), and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which causes AIDS. If you work around sharps, take precautions to limit your exposure. In addition, follow universal precautions: treat all blood and other potentially infectious

The National Waste & Recycling Association Announces Patty Garbarino, President of Marin Sanitary Service, as an Inductee into 2025 Hall of Fame

Arlington, Virginia—(March 27, 2025) —The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) announced the list of 2025 Hall of Fame inductees, including Marin Sanitary Service’s President, Patty Garbarino.  “I am deeply honored to follow in my Father’s footsteps and be inducted into the Hall of Fame,” Garbarino said.  “This honor belongs to all the Marin Sanitary staff, the cities, and the residents that we serve every day.  Together, we are recycling materials to make our community and the world a better

Construction Training Program from Canal Alliance, College of Marin, and Marin Builders Association

Trucks Needed for Touch Trucks Fundraising Event

Trucks are needed for this community fundraising event to benefit the new Larkspur Library! All shapes and sizes are welcome  --garbage, dumping, cement, fire, etc.  Please email Barbara Friday, b.friday@comcast.net if you are interested in participating. For more information about this event, click here.  

Phishy Business Alert!

Phishy Business Alert! Think you can spot a fake email from a mile away? The cybercriminals are betting you can't. With over 160 billion spam emails flying around every day, even the savviest among us can get tricked. Some of these scams are sneaky. We’re talking fake shipping notices, spoofed invoices, and messages that look like they came from your boss (but definitely didn’t). Lucky for you, we’ve put together a quick guide to help you sniff out the phony stuff before you click.?? Check out the blog

Standing Room Only at MBA's March Member Morning

If you BUILD it, they will come! We welcomed over 130 guests at our March Member Morning on Thursday, March 20th. Thank you to everyone who attended and filled the room with such incredible energy!  The theme of the event was Member Connections and we could not be more proud to have provided our members with this opportunity to do just that. Special thanks to our delicious coffee and donut sponsor, George Petersen Insurance Agency! We hope to see all of you at the next one!

The Power of Unreasonable Hospitality: How Putting Employees First Transforms Business Success

When people hear the word hospitality, they think about restaurants & hotels. But what if hospitality wasn’t just about guests what if it became the foundation for how businesses treat their employees? Will Guidara, author of Unreasonable Hospitality, revolutionized the fine dining industry by creating extraordinary guest experiences. But his philosophy isn’t just for restaurants, it’s a game changer for all businesses. We embrace this mindset in our consulting & strategy sessions to help businesses be

Free Safety Training Options for MBA Members

Marin Builders Association has been awarded a Susan Harwood Training Grant which will provide FREE safety training to contractors and their workers throughout Marin County. Your interest in the potential topics will help us determine what trainings to offer to you, our members. Your reply will take less than 2 minutes and will help us meet our grant requirements. We appreciate your help!   Take 2 minute survey

OSHA’s Final PPE Rule for Construction: What Contractors Need to Know

On January 13, 2025, OSHA’s final rule took effect regarding the standard for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the construction industry. PPE, which includes hard hats, gloves, goggles, safety shoes, safety glasses, welding helmets, hearing protection, respirators, coveralls, vests, harnesses, and full body suits, is now required to be made available in proper sizes by companies in the construction industry to their workforces. Previously, the construction industry was excluded from the proper fitting

Elevate Your Leadership with Adaptive Strategies

In today’s fast-paced business environment, staying ahead means embracing change and leading with agility. I want to share with you how adaptive leadership can transform challenges into opportunities and how my team and I are here to help you make that shift.  What Is Adaptive Leadership? Adaptive leadership isn’t just another buzzword; it’s a powerful mindset that helps you navigate complex challenges and drive meaningful change. It’s about understanding that the landscape is constantly evolving and

Marin Housing Authority Requests Bids on Several Projects

Marin Housing Authority is seeking a range of services, from electricians, to general contractors, to painters and several others. Solicitations can be found here: https://www.marinhousing.org/bids.

Windows 10 End of Life: Are You Ready for the Road Ahead?

?? Windows 10 End of Life: Are You Ready for the Road Ahead? ?? Still cruising along with Windows 10 like it’s your favorite old car? ?? It’s been reliable, but here’s the problem—the manufacturer is pulling the plug. After October 14, 2025, there will be no more security updates, no bug fixes, and no support—just a system running on borrowed time, wide open to cyber threats. Would you keep driving a car if the brakes stopped working? Probably not. So why risk running outdated, unsupported software?

MBA is Looking for a New Team Member

We're looking for the newest member of the MBA team!Job Title: Administrative & Marketing Support SpecialistLocation: Marin Builders Association, San Rafael, CAReports to: CEOPosition Overview: The Marin Builders Association (MBA) is seeking a highly organized, self-motivated, and versatile Administrative & Marketing Support Specialist to join our team on a part-time basis. This role is ideal for a self-starter with strong administrative skills, a passion for marketing, and a drive to enhance member

Congratulations Gabriela Shea on your Retirement!

Congratulations Gabriela Shea! Gabriela Shea, our Administrative and Marketing Assistant, who has been a valued and much-loved member of our team since joining in August 2016 will be retiring on March 13, 2025. As our Administrative and Marketing Assistant, Gabriela has played a crucial role in supporting our members, helping coordinate events, and contributing to our marketing efforts, leaving a lasting positive impact on the MBA and the broader community. Since joining the MBA in 2016, Gabriela has

Rebuilding Together East Bay Network a Finalist for 2025 Innovation Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Rebuilding Together East Bay Network is a Finalist for the East Bay Economic Development Alliance Innovation Award Berkeley, CA – February 24, 2025 – Local non-profit Rebuilding Together East Bay Network has been named a finalist for the prestigious 2025 East Bay Economic Development Alliance (EBEDA) Innovation Award in the Community Impact category. This recognition highlights the organization’s groundbreaking Big Skills Program, which equips construction trades apprentices and high

Own Your Own Second Home through the CalHome Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Loan Program

City of Novato Launches Express Building Permit Service

City Launches Express Building Permit ServiceStreamlined permitting process for registered and licensed contractors The City of Novato is thrilled to announce the launch of our new Express Permit Service for registered and licensed contractors. This service is designed to streamline and expedite the permitting process for select residential projects, saving you valuable time and effort. What is Express Permit Service?  Express Permit Service provides a faster and more convenient option for minor

How to Combat Burn Out in the Workplace

Recognizing the Signs of Burnout: Are You Running on Empty? In today's fast-paced world, the pressure to succeed can often lead to burnout. It's a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged or excessive stress. Understanding the signs of burnout is the first step to protecting your well-being and fostering a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle. Are you experiencing any of these symptoms? Take a moment to reflect on your current state and see if any of these resonatePhysical

2025 Marin County & City Building Permits

Click the links below to view a current list of permit reports published and provided by the County of Marin and the individual cities/towns including Corte Madera, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Novato, Ross, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Sausalito and Tiburon. If what you're looking for is not listed below, please don't hesitate to call our offices directly at 415.462.1220 or contact Gabriela Shea at mba@marinbuilders.com. Important Note: This list is updated monthly with the most current information we receive from

Marin County Office of Education School to Career Partnership: Internship Opportunity

Developing Our Workforce The Marin County Office of Education (MCOE) is actively seeking civic-oriented businesses to host spring and summer internships for students at San Rafael High, Terra Linda High, Novato High, and San Marin High Schools. MCOE's School to Career Partnership provides students with direct support to engage in hands-on work-based learning experience and career exploration, leading to high-demand, high-wage jobs. Student's interests cover a broad scope of industries. Your participation

What the Eaton and Palisades Fires Reveal About Wildfire Risk in Marin’s Housing Stock

For construction professionals in Marin County, wildfire risk may not always be a primary concern—but it should be. Recent fires in Southern California provide critical lessons on how homes ignite and the importance of wildfire-resistant construction. The Eaton Fire in Pasadena spread into a neighborhood of older homes, exposing the vulnerabilities of aging structures that predate modern wildfire codes. Meanwhile, the Palisades Fire ignited multiple homes in a newer development, proving that even recent

California Employers, Get Ready! Wide Range of Employment-Related Laws Will Take Effect January 1, 2025 + 4 Essential California Employee Handbook Updates for 2025

New California employment laws are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2025. These laws address a variety of issues, including the state minimum wage, discrimination protections, paid time off, and employers’ messages about unionization.  Quick HitsCalifornia’s minimum wage will increase from $16.00 to $16.50 per hour.New legislation clarifies that employers may not discriminate against workers because they have a combination of protected characteristics or do not have a driver’s license.California

New Law Changes in 2025 Affecting Licensees, Applicants and Stakeholders

Sacramento, CA – The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) is advising licensees, applicants, and other stakeholders of key legislative updates following the implementation ofSenate Bill 1455 (Ashby, 2024). This bill, effective January 1, 2025, extends the Board’s “sunset” date from 2025 to 2029 and makes other changes to the law, which are described below. Key Provisions of SB 1455    1. Public Works Project LicensingWhat’s New?  Awarding authorities must now ensure that public works project bidders

Windows 10 End of Life: Plan Ahead and Save on 2024 Expenses

Windows 10 End of Life: Plan Ahead and Save on 2024 Expenses Did you know that Windows 10 reaches end of life in October 2025? This means any devices still running Windows 10 will become a security risk to your network once Microsoft stops support. If you’ve been holding off on upgrades or replacements, this might be the perfect time to act, especially if you’re looking for smart ways to allocate 2024 expenses. We can help evaluate your current devices and assist with upgrading or replacing them to keep

Home Hardening in Action

When wildfire swept through Camarillo, California, Steven Snyder’s fire-hardened home emerged unscathed amid widespread destruction in his neighborhood. By choosing to build with fire-resistant materials—Class A roofing, fireproof siding, ember-resistant vents, and a fully cleared defensible space—Snyder’s home stood resilient against the flames. His story underscores the critical role of wildfire-ready construction as California’s seasons grow more intense, especially in high-risk areas like Marin

The Future of Home Insurance May Rely on Fire Smart Building

Earlier in July 2024, the New York Times published an article highlighting the collaboration of researchers at the Insurance Institute of Business & Home Safety (IBHS)  and insurance agencies, who are grappling with escalating losses due to the magnitude of wildfires across the West. The research emphasizes the role of a home's design features to withstand wildfire by focusing on key areas of home ignition risk: near-home landscaping, and the building’s materials and design often referred to as home

2024 Marin County & City Building Permits

Click the links below to view a current list of permit reports published and provided by the County of Marin and the individual cities/towns including Corte Madera, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Novato, Ross, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Sausalito and Tiburon. If what you're looking for is not listed below, please don't hesitate to call our offices directly at 415.462.1220 or contact Gabriela Shea at mba@marinbuilders.com. Important Note: This list is updated monthly with the most current information we receive from

Liens & Completions 2023 - 2024

Click the links below to view a current list of Liens & Completions published and provided by the County of Marin. If what you're looking for is not listed below, please don't hesitate to call our offices directly at 415.462.1220 or contact Paula Krause

Biggest Workers’ Compensation Mistakes by Contractors

In this crazy time of the COVID-19, it is not the time to cut corners to your detriment. While well intentioned contractors are always attempting to keep costs down to make a profit, they make some mistakes regarding workers’ compensation insurance.   Most common mistakes are:Certifying with the Contractors License Board that they do not need workers’ compensation insurance as they have no employees when they may have employees or use day laborers. . Not checking the sub-contractors to make sure they are

Lien Protection Checklist - SUBCONTRACTOR

Click here for Subcontractor Lien Protection Checklist to protect your Lien rights provided by the Marin Builders Association and Dan McLennon of Smith, Currie & Hancock, LLP.Reviewed and Updated February 2024

Lien Protection Checklist - GENERAL CONTRACTOR

Click here for General Contractors Lien Rights Protection Checklist to protect your Lien rights provided by the Marin Builders  Association and Board member Dan McLennon.Reviewed and Updated February 2024